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Monday, December 12, 2016

Coming from a Physics degree, a career
in finance has always seemed like a natural route for me. However, after
attending many career events I found myself continuously hearing the same
information from similar types of companies. So, when I heard about Explore Sky
Finance Insight day I was intrigued straight away. The next thing I knew I was
filling out an application form, completing a telephone interview and I was in!

When I got to Sky I was taken in by the
sheer size of their headquarters, Google Maps really does not do it justice! I
was greeted with a warm smile from TARGETjobs and taken over to the new Sky
building which is full of shops, canteens a dry cleaner... And oh yeah, open
offices!

The day itself was fantastic; there was
a welcome talk from the head of finance and a few senior leaders. After this,
the Sky graduate recruiters spoke about the application process for the
graduate scheme, highlighting common places where applicants slip up. It really
put into perspective the subtle, yet very effective ways to make a much
stronger application, not just for Sky but for any application you may make.
There was even a talk from CIMA (the global professional qualification you
complete whilst on the Sky Finance programme). It wasn’t all talks, there was a
Q&A session with the current graduates and even a chance to network with
them over lunch. This was my favourite part of the day as it is where I gained
the most valuable information and on top of that there was free lunch.

The day concluded with a tour of Sky
and then a team challenge which provided an insight into working life at Sky. I
found the team challenge particularly beneficial as it is a task that is commonly
asked at assessment centres. The only down side was that I didn’t meet anyone
famous but there is always next time I suppose.

Monday, December 5, 2016

A few weeks into my long university summer break, I
received an email from Targetjobs about their latest opportunity; a technology
insight day at the Sky campus in Osterley. After doing some research into the
culture at Sky, the various roles available and into the graduate tech scheme
itself, I decided to submit an application in the hope that, if I was offered a
place, I would be able to gain a better insight into a career at Sky.

Fortunately, I soon received an email from Targetjobs
and was offered a telephone interview. I was asked several questions about
myself and my motivations to apply to the event, which was an insightful
experience, helping me to develop my communication skills and reflect on how to
sell myself to an employer.

The ‘Sky bus’ enabled me to quickly and easily commute
to the Sky campus, giving me the opportunity to chat to friendly employees on
route. As I arrived at the Sky campus, I was amazed at the grandeur of the site,
as expected of a top tech firm. The laid back atmosphere at Sky reflected the
informal office style, with open areas to work. It was really beneficial to be
at the Sky offices, as opposed to meeting representatives at a careers fair, as
we were able to network with employees across a range of roles and managerial
levels, including meeting the grads, who were able to deliver a fresh
perspective on exactly what we would be doing at Sky. We were also able to
listen to the wise words of Colin McQuade, Managing Director of Group TV and
Digital Platforms at Sky, and ask any questions.

The layout of the day was well organized and a variety
of different elements of Sky were explored. From speakers to tours, to a talk
on how to enhance your application and a quiz, it was definitely an informative
day! In the afternoon, we were put into groups, in which we had to assign roles
and design and make a new app for ‘Sky Cinema’. This was a really fun activity,
challenging us to use our imaginations, as much as our teamwork skills in order
to finish the designing and coding.

As a humanities student, I was skeptical about whether
my skills would be compatible with a career in technology. However, at the
event, I was able to speak to grads and members of recruitment and learn that
students from diverse degree backgrounds are valued, as Sky embraces the
benefits of this diversity in team projects. I would definitely encourage
undergraduates and graduates alike to look into attending this event, as well
as the internship opportunities at Sky, especially if you have a passion for
technology and the digital revolution that is currently so pertinent to so many
elements of our everyday lives.